The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines, effective Thursday, September 24, until further notice. This decision comes as new US sanctions, described by President Trump as "economic D-Day," took effect, targeting Iran's international aviation infrastructure. The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously warned that companies providing services to Iranian airlines could face US sanctions, aiming to effectively shut down Iranian carriers.
The suspension by the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) directly responds to the US ban on Iranian airlines using airports worldwide. This move follows an earlier Trump administration designation on September 8, which targeted 27 Iranian carriers and individuals linked to aviation support in several countries, including the UAE. An Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was notably canceled shortly before departure due to these new restrictions.
The latest sanctions are a significant blow to Iran's already struggling aviation sector. International flight capacity from Iran was already 49 percent lower in August 2026 compared to a year prior. Many international airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Lufthansa, had already suspended flights to Iran due to ongoing conflict and previous sanctions. The new measures have left only a handful of Iranian-operated international routes and are pushing thousands of travelers towards land crossings with neighboring countries like Turkey and Armenia.
Experts warn that these restrictions could have far-reaching consequences beyond passenger travel. They could jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs in Iran's aviation industry and related sectors like tourism and hospitality. Moreover, the sanctions could exacerbate Iran's healthcare crisis, as some medical imports, which often arrive by air, are now facing increased costs—up to tenfold in some cases—due to economic pressure and war-related damage. The US has also effectively prohibited international airlines from flying through Iranian airspace, impacting Iran's lucrative overflight payments, which previously generated over $300 million annually.
